Two men have been killed in a shooting which has left at least four others injured outside a military barracks in Northern Ireland.

The victims were apparently hit by shots from a passing car at Massereene, Antrim, in what the Ministry of Defence described as a "drive-by" attack.

It is understood that the two dead men and two of the injured men are military personnel. The other two injured men are thought to be civilians.

Witnesses reported hearing two long busts of gunfire as a car drove by the barracks. Immediately afterwards sirens could be heard blaring inside the military barracks, which is located on the edge of the town.

At least six ambulances and three paramedic vehicles rushed to the scene to take the injured to Antrim area hospital, about a mile away.

The area around the barracks, where 38 Engineering Regiment is based, has been sealed off and a major security operation is under way.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that an attack has been carried out in Massereene in Antrim at about 9.20pm this evening.

"There have been two fatalities. It is understood that those two fatalities are male.

"It is also understood that a further four males have been brought to hospital and are in a serious condition."